Eurostar, has reported continuing growth in passenger numbers and sales revenues in 2014, as the business celebrated its 20th anniversary.
Last year, passenger numbers rose by 3% to 10.4 million bringing the total number of passengers travelling on Eurostar since the start of services in 1994 to over 150 million.
2014 sales revenues increased by 1% to £867 million and Nicolas Petrovic, chief executive of Eurostar, said 2014 had been a “pivotal year”.
“Our new e320 trains are now in the final months of testing and on schedule to come into commercial service at the end of this year,” he continued.
“As we introduce new trains, upgrade our stations and invest in our service, passengers can look forward to a complete transformation of their travel experience.”
The company also highlighted the strong recovery in the UK economy, which also led to an increase in business travel bookings throughout the year. In 2014 the number of Eurostar business travellers increased by 4% compared with 2013.
The business also achieved year-on-year growth in underlying profitability with like-for-like operating profit up 2% in 2014 to £55.0 million.
To mark its 20th anniversary in 2014, Eurostar unveiled its state of the art new e320 train at St Pancras International station.
In total, Eurostar is investing more than £1 billion in its fleet and its service and will be introducing 17 new trains over the next three years. Carrying 900 passengers, these Eurostar e320 trains will boost capacity per train by 20% and will be capable of a speed of 200 mph.
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